Farmer's Daughter (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter 29

Melinda's POV

"Charlie's awake" he smiled. It was the same smile that I had come to enjoy. His white teeth showing through is slightly chapped lips. My face mimicked his, it almost felt like my face was going to split in two with the pain. But I couldn't care less with the news I had just gotten.

"T-take me to her." I stutter.

He quickly stands to his feet and jumps off of the side of the truck. He holds his hands up in a gesture to help me down. For a mere second I thought about denying the offer. But in second thought, I probably didn't need more damage to my already bruised body.

I sat on the edge of the truck and swung my legs over, impatiently waiting to get down.

"Hurry up Daryl." I wasn't trying to be pushy. And I think he could see that as I squirmed and tapped on the edge of the vehicle.

He gentle grabbed at my sides and I put my dingy hands on his shoulders. I winced as he lowered me to the ground. Considering the way that the governor had swung that baseball bat was the same place that Daryl was gripping.

I grabbed at my sides in pain as he mumbled a sorry. I quickly jogged past him, my legs at points almost buckling.

"Go up to yer room! That's where she's been at!" I heard him call after me as the screen door slammed. I tried taking the stairs two at a time, my body just screamed for me to stop. Each step was a step closer to seeing the reason I'm alive. The reason I had pushed on from the beginning.

I reached the closed door and I grabbed ahold of the handle, twisting it and slamming the door open. There sat in front of me were two people. Mike, and her.

She jumped at the sound of the door banging into the wall. Her bright blue eyes snapped my way and a smile appeared on her face.

"Momma!" She screamed. She started to wiggle off of the bed as I took long strides her way. Her little arms reached up to mine as I scooped her up. I held her against my body and squeezed her closer.

"Momma that's to tight!" She giggled. I loosened my grip and laughed along with her. She looked back at Mike with a huge grin, and then back to me. "Why're you crying?" She began to reach up to wipe away my fallen tears when Mike spoke up.

"No no Charlie! Don't touch mommas face." We both looked at the man with curious eyes. He stood up and slowly walked over to us. I shook my head as I looked back at the bundle of joy in my arms.

"I'm just happy to see you." I smiled, answering her last question. She continued to scan my face with curiosity. Her small eyebrows were furrowed together as she looks from my lips to my eyes.

"We're you fighting bad guys again?" She ask. I nod my head to confirm her question. It's what I had always told her when I went to work and had to leave her with the babysitter; momma was going to fight bad guys and keep her safe. Although, I don't know if she's to safe now. I frowned as I thought about those men coming back once again.

"Charlie can you play up here for a little while? Me and momma have to go somewhere." Mike took the small girl from my hands and sat her down on the bed, handing her some crayons and a coloring book.

I looked up at him with worried eyes as I thought about leaving her alone. Again.

"She'll be fine. Come on." He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the open door as I looked back at her. She happily colored as I went around the corner and down the stairs.

"Mike what are you doing?" I growl. He stops and quickly turns to me.

"Have you seen yourself lately!" He says to me in a harsh tone. I didn't say anything as he turns and goes down the last few steps, me following along.

We step into the family room and all heads turn to look me square in the face. There were all types of reactions. The ones of my family, they were sad. The ones of the group, it was a mixture of mad, sad, and shocked.

Maggie stood to her feet and quickly ran out of the room with her hand over her mouth. I followed instinctively.

When I found her she was in the kitchen. Her hands rested on the counter as the water run in front of her. Her sniffles could be heard from where I stood in the doorway.

"Maggie-"

"Sit down." She demanded. "Please" she said in a softer way. I didn't question as I pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and sat down in it. A sigh leaves my lips, one of relaxation. I hadn't sat down and felt comfortable in a few days.

She turns with a bowl of water in her hand and a washcloth in the other. She shakily sets it down next to me and sits in the chair beside me.

"I've got it." A gruff voice comes from the hallway as Rick steps forward, Daryl not to far behind him. Maggie nods and leaves the room, a few sobs trailed behind her as she dashes up the stairs.

Rick walked over and slowly sat in the chair that Maggie had sat in. Daryl leaned against the doorway as Rick grabbed the rag and dipped it into the water.

"I know what you're going to ask me." I mumble. He brings the warm rag to my face as I slightly coward away at the stinging pain.

"Sorry." He mumbles. He looks at the now bloody rag and returns it to the bowl to be rinsed. "So what am I going to ask?" There's a pause before I open my mouth.

"Why I did it." I say in a soft voice. It was almost inaudible. He looks up to my pained eyes and gives a small shake of the head as he brings the rag up once again and lightly rubs the dried blood off of my face.

"No." He pauses. A sigh leaves his lips as he thinks of what to say next. "No I know why you did it. You're Melinda."

I was confused to say the least at what he was getting to. Until he bit his lip, took a deep breath and started again.

"You always protect the ones you love. No matter what they have done to you. I've worked with you long enough to know that. I've spent the last 15 years by your side. I think I know you better than you know yourself. I think I know what you're going to do before you even do it. I can tell by your facial expressions. So listen close when I say that I know why you did it. You did it for these people. You did it so these people wouldn't have to be harmed. And you are strong. You are one of the strongest people I know. And I am very proud of you. You took this problem, and you kicked it in the ass. You went in strong and you came out stronger. I'm just glad that you came back."

I stare at the man for a minute. The way he talked, I felt just about the same. I knew what his next choices for this group were probably going to be. He's a great leader. There's no hesitation.

I bring my arms up and wrap them around his torso. He freezes for a second before bringing his arms around my shoulders. His hand lightly rubs my back as I grip onto his shirt.

"Thank you." I sniffle. My arms shook the slightest bit as I hold onto his shirt.

"What did they do to you?" He whispers.

A/N

So I'm not very happy with this chapter... But it's been to long. Once again.

So Rick! I'm having some Rick feels and I had to add a little of him in there. ;)

Tell me what you all think!

-Melinda